UWNNM NEWS RELEASE
The United Way of Northern New Mexico is hosting its Fall Community Celebration and Fundraiser Luncheon at Fuller Lodge Saturday, October 9th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. The event will kick off the 2022 Fundraising cycle, introduce the United Way Leadership and Board of Trustees, and host a Community Resource Fair. The event is free and open to the public, donations are encouraged at the event and can also be made online at: https://www.unitedwaynnm.org/donate
The Fall Fundraiser Luncheon invites current and new Donors for the United Way of Northern New Mexico to contribute to the Community Action Fund. The Community Action Fund provides critical funding to nonprofit organizations serving Rio Arriba and Los Alamos Counties with a focus on four priority areas: Education & Youth mentoring, Behavioral Health & Parent Supports, Food & Housing and Senior Transportation. The event will showcase the region’s talented youth with Native American Hoop Dance performances by the Lightning Boy Foundation, Latin cultural dances from Moving Arts Espanola, and musical performances by the Los Alamos Jazz Project.
A warm, healthy, fresh, and organic lunch will be provided by Chef Chris Laino from Los Alamos Market Co-Op consisting of herb roasted chicken, or chipotle shredded beef, oven roasted vegetables, and soup. Chef Christopher Laino started his culinary training at the age of 13 in his father’s restaurant in Cincinnati, Ohio and has since spanned the country honing his culinary skills. From fine dining to backyard barbecue and all the in between, Christopher has collected 24 years in the culinary industry, and continues to build and innovate in and out of the kitchen. As of late, Chef Christopher has teamed up with the Los Alamos Cooperative Market to create organic, local, tasty, prepared foods and a catering program for Los Alamos to enjoy. Lunch is free to all current United Way Donors who RSVP at (505)662-0800 or Cristian@UnitedWayNNM.org. The public and potential Donors are encouraged to join us for free entertainment and to purchase a $10 lunch ticket from the Los Alamos Market Co-Op Serving Station.
“The United Way of Northern New Mexico is rising to meet the challenges of today,” says Executive Director Monica Griego, “In 2021 our community partners and funded grantees served more meals, provided shelter to more individuals and families, delivered more food boxes to older adults, and met the basic needs and education supports to more of our rural and frontier communities than ever before. The need to support our direct service nonprofit agencies has never been greater, and the determination and commitment of our agency partners to improve the lives of our region’s residents has never been stronger. Our four-star Charity Navigator financial rating demonstrates that our organization exceeds industry standards in financial health, accountability, and transparency. We are ready to create mighty change in the region.”
The Community Resource Fair features United Way of Northern New Mexico grantees, community partners and business supporters. Currently, the Community Action Fund supports twenty-four direct services nonprofit agencies serving Rio Arriba and Los Alamos Counties, some of whom will be in attendance. The 2021 Community Action Funded Partners include: Cancer Foundation of New Mexico, Canones Early Childhood Center, Casa Esperanza, CASA First Foster Program, El Rito Library, Embudo Valley Library, Embudo Valley Tutoring, Explora Science Center, Family Strengths Network, Family YMCA, Inside Out, Las Cumbres Community Center, Los Alamos Family Council, Luciente, Inc., Mesa to Mesa Emergency Home Repairs, McCurdy Schools, Moving Arts Espanola, Northern Youth Project, Ojo Sarco Community Center, Rio Arriba Adult Literacy Program, San Martin de Porres Soup Kitchen, Self Help, Inc., The Food Depot and Truchas Preschool Service Center.